002. Even Better
Early in the morning, Gordon Dirik of the dark elf clan woke up humming a tune.
"Can't give a bad first impression on our meeting."
He shaved his beard and trimmed his hair. Dressed in a neat suit, he was all set.
Looking in the mirror, a handsome dark elf with sleek black hair stared back.
"Hm, perfect."
Today was the graduation ceremony for the 99th class of the Demon King Academy.
The trainee demon kings, having completed their education, would officially become demon kings and be assigned to various dimensions. And he was to serve as adjutant to one such demon king.
'Top graduate of the Demon Clan Training Academy, Gordon Dirik.'
While the Demon King Academy trained demon kings, the Demon Clan Training Academy produced demons to serve them.
The top performers especially became adjutants to demon kings, and Gordon, having graduated at the top, was slated to serve Berze Dayas, the top graduate of the Demon King Academy.
No, the assignment was already official, and he'd received Berze's files in advance.
'Of the great dragon clan.'
'A genius who never lost first place.'
'Peerless talent.'
'The greatest in Demon King Academy history.'
The files overflowed with nothing but praise, filling him with satisfaction.
As an adjutant sworn to serve a demon king, it was only natural to wish for the finest master.
In that sense, the top graduate, Berze Dayas, was the ideal liege, and Gordon the luckiest dark elf alive.
'With him, we could conquer any dimension.'
Just graduating top had already unlocked countless perks beyond his assignment. With their pairing plus those benefits, they could achieve anything.
"We now commence the graduation ceremony for the 99th class of the Demon King Academy."
He arrived at the auditorium in high spirits, now packed with all sorts of demons as the hour struck.
Gordon headed backstage with familiar faces.
"How's yours?"
"The demon king you'll serve?"
"Not bad. Cool, charismatic—like the epitome of a great demon king."
The future adjutants, their assignments set, gossiped about their lords.
Trivial chatter: who'd been paired with whom, impressions of this or that demon king.
Naturally, Gordon drew the most envy and attention.
"Saw Berze earlier. Top graduate lives up to it—stood out from the rest."
"Same here. Something untouchable about him. Feels like we'd conquer anything together."
"Dragon clan, huh? Makes sense."
Gordon's shoulders puffed up at his peers' praise.
No adjutant hated hearing their lord lauded. He felt grateful to Berze Dayas, graduating alongside his own class.
As they chattered, the ceremony raced toward its close.
Finally came the diploma presentation by the chairman, and Berze Dayas ascended the podium.
"Handsome."
190 cm tall, imposing build, natural intimidation. The dignity of the top graduate.
'The one I'll serve from now on. The one to write legends.'
Gordon's chest swelled with anticipation.
He envisioned conquering countless dimensions together, etching their names in history.
"We now begin the oath for the new demon kings."
"Top graduate Berze Dayas will read it on behalf of all."
That lasted until the oath to uphold the Demon King's Canon.
"Berze Dayas?"
"Please lead us in the great Demon King's Canon without delay."
Even as Berze hesitated, not reciting the canon, Gordon saw nothing amiss.
Files called him the staunchest adherent, so he just figured it was overwhelming emotion.
He never dreamed that he would.
"Impossible."
Utter such heresy.
"I can't swear that idiotic oath. Following the Demon King's Canon is as stupid and moronic as barging into a dragon's lair with a hatchling corpse. That canon is trash!"
He truly never saw it coming.
"……."
Gordon's legs gave out, and he slumped to the floor.
"That's the blockhead?"
"Daring to insult the canon? Should be executed."
"And next to him? A moron fitting for the blockhead?"
"Heard he's the blockhead's adjutant? Assignment's locked in."
"Poor guy. How'd he end up with that…."
"Tsk, what a waste of talent rotting under a blockhead."
Gordon shut his eyes amid the murmurs. His plight felt so wretched, tears welled up.
Meanwhile, Berze sat before him, utterly unfazed, extending a hand casually.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Berze Dayas."
"……."
Gordon stared at the hand. He didn't want to take it. But he had no choice.
'Madman. Bastard. Should rip him apart right now.'
After Berze's bombshell declaration, Gordon felt the shifted reality.
The vicious rumors still buzzing were just the start.
"What? The canon set by the First Mahwang, proven countless times, is trash?"
"Like charging a dragon's lair with a hatchling corpse?"
"Top graduate my ass—is he insane?"
"Him as top? What's the academy teaching?!"
The demons raged.
The Demon King's Canon had unified chaotic Ma-gye and projected its power outward—the First Mahwang's legacy.
To demons, the canon was faith. An inviolable sanctum.
And Berze had violated it.
"Investigate the academy's grading for fraud!"
"That trash insulting the canon can't be a demon king!"
"Strip his qualifications and ship him to the Golan mines!"
Protests erupted. With their radical nature, violence and terror followed as expected.
It started at the school, but who knew when that fury would turn on Berze—and him, doomed to serve Berze.
"…Why on earth did you do that?"
Gordon's tone sharpened inevitably.
"Do what?"
"The canon! The canon!"
He bristled.
"Just swear the damn oath, and everything would've been perfect! Your achievements and prestige had prime perks lined up!"
He couldn't fathom it. Spitting on destined glory with his own mouth—what idiocy. Why would the top graduate do this?
No, why trash the great canon? How could anyone sane spew such nonsense? Was he even a demon?
Faint disgust mixed with his anger.
But Berze sidestepped, changing the subject.
"You went to the training academy, right?"
"……."
Right after the ceremony ended, Gordon sought the training academy's chairman.
He begged: cancel the assignment. He didn't want to serve Berze Dayas.
'Heard the news. Expected great things from the academy's top scorer, but a blockhead? Makes you wonder if the faculty's lost it.'
'Regrettable, but can't cancel. Once assigned, bonds last to the end. Tradition from the First Mahwang.'
'Can't become like that canon-trasher just 'cause he ignored it.'
The chairman's tsking and shoulder pat lingered in his mind.
'Why'd I have to top the class? If only I'd slipped to second….'
But regrets came too late, no matter how soon.
"…The perks."
"Huh?"
"Do the perks still apply?"
At least those for topping the class might console him.
"Sadly, all canceled. For slandering the canon."
Damn it!
Of course. Couldn't let a canon-defiler off lightly. For such high treason, dismemberment was lenient; stripping perks showed lingering expectations.
Top graduate, after all—might as well use him.
Better to grind him for Ma-gye's sake than kill outright; that was Ma-gye's atonement.
'But why me, of all people….'
He was one of Berze's perks, too.
Oblivious, Berze extended his hand again.
"Anyway, we're stuck together now. Nice working with you."
"……."
Gordon couldn't bring himself to take it.
In the office of Ma-gye Archduke Alkain Blamip.
I rushed at his summons.
"Enter."
Sinking into the plush sofa, Alkain poured blood-red wine himself. A faint metallic tang coated my tongue.
"I don't like you much either. Born arrogant or spoiled by topping the class—who knows. Can't stand leaving a canon-insulter alive."
He stated the murderous intent flatly.
"Is that so?"
I sipped calmly. Knowing his temperament—if truly intent on killing, he wouldn't grant a private audience like this.
"But. You're a blockhead rebel, yet academy top. Demons question the grading, but I know the chairman well. He takes no bribes, twists no evals for personal gain."
That's why he'd chaired for centuries.
"Your talent's real. Wasted on a fool, I'd say. Other archdukes might differ."
"……."
"Repent your folly now. Apologize."
Clink.
Alkain set down his glass.
"Kneel before the First Mahwang's statue. Swear to uphold the canon. Atone until all forgive."
Then I'd minimize the harm coming your way, as much as my authority allows.
He whispered sweetly.
"But persist in your stubbornness, and I'll assign you to Alein."
Alein. Among the five dimensions in conquest, the worst difficulty.
Number one avoided posting.
Where most demon kings had perished historically.
"You know what it means to go to Alein with just one measly adjutant."
I did. Even demon kings with hordes failed there; one adjutant was suicide.
"Well? Chance remains."
He smiled chillingly, brimming with confidence I'd beg forgiveness.
It amused me, so I smiled back.
A normal demon king might bow here.
But I'm no normal demon king.
"I'll go."
"Good… what?"
"My stance unchanged. Respect the First Mahwang, but the canon's trash. Whatever past merits, now it's means overtaking ends—pure stupidity."
"You arrogant little…!"
Rumble—
"…You need death to wise up, huh? Topping the class made you lose all sense, rampaging blindly."
Thick killing intent made the air quiver. But I didn't flinch.
"Maybe."
Already dead once, dying again wouldn't wise me up. If anything, that death had cleared my head.
"So rather than apologize, just send me to Alein."
Top avoidance spot?
Devoured the most demon kings?
Even better.
Because that's where those vermin who mocked and toyed with me lurked.
My old assignment ground.
'Wait up, you hero bastards.'
This time, I'll rip your throats out with my nails.